/* START Google Analytics Code*/ /* END of Google Analytics Code */ A home called "Parvathi": March 2011

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Worship through music – Dr. N. Ramani


[ Courtesy: Lokabhiramam ]

The concert we feature this time is from Dr. Ramani, a perennial favourite with the rasikas in Parvathi, Mysore. The concert held during Ramanavami festival in 1974 features also the redoubtable M.S. Gopalakrishnan on violin, Tanjore Upendran on the mridangam and Mysore Manjunath on the ghatam.

The concert starts off with the Begade varna and then moves to a splendid rendition of the Sriranjani krithi from Papanasam Sivan, “Gajavadana Karunasadana”.

It is our tradition to begin all auspicious activities by paying obeisance to Ganesha and seeking his blessings for a successful endeavour without impediments. Papanasam Sivan has taken this prayer to a higher level in his song. He says therein that Ganesha is the spiritual preceptor and will show the way to liberation through conferring devotion and spiritual insight (Shivaagama). In other words, the popular deity is not just one to confer worldly success but one who shows the way to the ultimate goal of life. If we take our song and prayer to that level, we not only enjoy the wonderful music of a krithi but also progress towards life's ultimate goal. That is true worship through music.

Ramani has given us a memorable rendition of this Sriranjani krithi, one of the famous compositions of the “Tamil Thyagayya” Papanasam Sivan.

The next krithi, with a brisk tempo, is in Chakravakam. After exhausting our resources, we approached an expert and friend, Shri Shailesh Ramamurthy. He painstakingly researched all sources and finally found the krithi and its notation in the Tamil magazine Swadeshamithran dated 3 April 1955. It is a krithi of Mysore Vasudevachar! Talk of 'the butterfly effect'... Our profuse thanks to this rasikottama. In the process our listeners have a chance to hear a rare krithi of a master composer in Chakravakam.

The concert progresses to lofty musical levels in Charukeshi and Mohana. In Mohana, one of Ramani's favourite ragas, the music unfolds with a multi-faceted splendour. Ramani, and MSG, by turn, charm the listener. Upendran plays with much zest in the song that follows, Nanu Palimpa, one of the immortal krithis of Thyagaraja. We share in the vivid experience of the saint as he describes how he is overwhelmed by the blessed vision of Rama and Sita.

After Nadaloludai in Kalyana Vasantham, Ramani takes up Kambhoji for Ragam Thanam Pallavi. The raga is presented majestically in a very gayaki style that harks back to the grand masters of yore. His sedate and lustrous alapana is responded to in kind by MSG. The emotive weight of the raga is manifest in both presentations.

There are generous touches of Hindustani music from MSG... for that matter even from Ramani, in many places. Mohana, Abhogi and Behag stand out...

The Concert

N.Ramani --- Flute
M.S.Gopalakrishnan --- Violin
Tanjore Upendran --- Mridangam
K.S.Manjunath --- Ghatam

held during Ramanavami festival on April 4, 1974 at Parvathi

01. Inta Chala – Begade Varna – Veena Kuppaiyer *** 02. Gaja Vadana – Sriranjani – Papanasam Sivan *** 03. Neranammithi Neevegathi - Chakravakam – Mysore Vasudevachar *** 04. Niravadhi Sukhada – Ravichandrika – Thyagaraja *** 05. Aada Modi Galada – Charukeshi – Thyagaraja *** 06. Nanu Palimpa – Mohana – Thyagaraja *** 07. Nada Loludai – Kalyana Vasantham – Thyagaraja *** 08. Ragam- Thanam – Pallavi – Kambhoji + Raga Malika (Varali – Sama- Abhogi-Behag) *** 09. Saravanabhava – Shanmukhapriya – Papanasam Sivan *** 10. Magudi *** 11. Bhajan – Bageshree *** 12. Thillana – Dhanashree – Swathi Thirunal ***